Boeing P-8A Poseidon

A modified 737-800, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon is being developed to engage in ASW (anti-submarine warfare) and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) for the US Navy. The Aircraft debuted in February of this year (2012). The mission of this aircraft will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. This particular aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon LL 428 was commissioned on March 28th, 2012 at NAS Jacksonville.

All in all a pretty cool sight, seeing this rather new military aircraft fly right over our heads at Boyd Hill Nature Park, St Petersburg, Florida headed out into the Gulf of Mexico. While air force jets are a rather common sight around here with Macdill AFB in the area, seeing this US Navy jet fly overhead like that made this old former US Navy sailor just have to take that shot!